Even if you have one of the professional Micro Four Thirds camera bodies (such as the excellent Panasonic GH5), you cant really rely on clean high ISO performance, meaning that you’ll definitely struggle to shoot at f/4 with shutter speeds around 1/100. Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. Type: Prime | Sensor size: MFT | Focal length: 60mm | Effective focal length: 120mm | Maximum aperture: f/1.8 | Image stabilizer: No | Minimum focus distance: 0.19m | Filter size: 46mm | Dimensions: 56 x 82mm | Weight: 185g. Also consider: Olympus M.ZUIKO ED 75-300mm f/4.8‑6.7 II. Money no object:Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm F1.2 Pro. Another bonus is that the 2x crop factor of the MFT format effectively boosts the maximum magnification factor from 1:1 to 2:1, or double life-size. It really is a tiny lens that makes your camera a pleasure to use. The ‘MFT’ or ‘Micro 4/3’ system has witnessed a huge growth in popularity recently. You still start out with a fairly wide field-of-view and can zoom in almost as much as many telephoto lenses. Due to the handy 2x crop factor of the sensor, micro 4/3 lenses are more compact and lightweight for their quality and range. (56 x 46 mm) This was the first Micro Four Thirds lens that made me take proper notice of MFT cameras in general. This compact zoom also delivers a 14-28mm effective focal range, and while its aperture isn't quite as fast as that of its rival above, image quality is strong. Even though the lens weighs nearly a kilogram, it’s still sufficiently lightweight for prolonged periods of handheld shooting. First off, some good news. Focal Length: 20mm (40mm equivalent) 4-Aug-20 Olympus Corporation announced the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS, the compact, lightweight super telephoto zoom lens. The Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 is a full-frame mirrorless camera but in a body smaller than the Micro Four Thirds GH5. Check the exact price here, but know that you’re getting a helluva lot of lens for an absolute bargain price. Focal Length: 25mm (50mm equivalent) Naturally, the 2x crop factor of MFT cameras gives this lens an effective 50mm focal length, delivering a classic ‘standard’ viewing angle with a fairly fast f/1.8 aperture rating. If you can step back far enough, it’s also fine for group photos, or even landscapes. Stuck in between two of the most versatile focal lengths, 40mm is actually the best of both worlds. The Panasonic Leica 45mm F2.8 Macro essentially strikes a middle-ground between the other two options. Pairing it with a weather-sealed Panasonic GH4 or Olympus OM-D EM 1 creates an ideal all-weather shooting solution. Then there’s the Olympus 25mm f/1.8, a lens that I really enjoyed using since it’s slightly smaller and lighter than the Panasonic offering. It's a lens that makes it very affordable to experiment with shooting at 300mm equivalent. Runner-up: The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 ASPH is one of the best autofocus normal lens you can buy for M4/3. The Olympus offers a significant 80-300mm equivalent coverage, while maintaining an F2.8 maximum aperture. Disclaimer: All recommendations are impartial and based on user experience, with no bias to the products or the brand. Panasonic GH3 + Rokinon 12mm f/2 | 25s f/2 ISO 125 | © Damian Ward. Money no object: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm F1.2 Pro. The equivalent 50mm field of view produces almost no distortion, making a flattering option for portraits. This sort of lens helps you to capture stunning landscape images. 90mm may be somewhat limiting if you don’t have the space to back up, but as long as you’re outside or have adequate room, it’s actually quite flexible. Panasonic Leica Noticron 42.5mm f1.2 Lens: Not only is this lens widely regarded as the best portrait lens, but it’s also the sharpest lens for µ43, and it’s consistently ranked as the best overall lens across many different publications. Focal Length: 17mm (34mm equivalent) Like other lenses in the ‘M.ZUIKO PRO’ line-up, it’s immaculately turned out with fabulous build quality. They are generally smaller and cheaper than DSLR lenses because the cameras have smaller sensors. Image quality and overall handling are both excellent. With a weight of just 165g it's an ideal take-anywhere option, with the integrated petal-shaped hood making sure that extraneous light is never an issue. Here at DPReview we use a lot of lenses, but we can't test every single product on the market. Kit lenses are a great start, but they’re also a bit of a handbrake as to what your high-performance engine is capable of! While f/4 may not be as desirable at the wider end than more modest zooms typically manage to offer, the lens's ace card is that its image stabilisation system can deliver up 6.5 stops of compensation when used with certain bodies. Tele: Olympus 45mm f1.8 - in my opinion one of the best for M4/3 and one that every M4/3 user should have. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998 - 2020 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved. Like the Olympus 17mm that we favour for street photography, this one is available in either a silver or black finish, and the hood is sold separately. The real standout feature though is the ‘Power O.I.S’ – image stabilisation that provides an additional 4 stops of aperture flexibility, and a huge benefit for video shooters. The Olympus 45mm is a very smart buy for portraiture and, while it can’t shrink the depth of field as much as Panasonic’s f/1.2 lens, it’s much more affordable at just one-sixth of the price. This diagonal fisheye lens was the first of its kind to be launched for the Micro Four Thirds system, and eight years later it remains a solid choice. The perfect supplement to Panasonic’s 12-35mm f/2.8 lens, this one is equivalent to that other stalwart full-frame zoom for pro photographers - the 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto. It’s seriously expensive but, then again, Canon’s 85mm f/1.2 full-frame ‘portrait’ lens is getting on for twice the price. Copyright © 2020 Shotkit • Privacy Policy. Both makes of lenses are equally compatible on both makes of camera body. Also consider: Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye PRO. However, it doesn't have the manual focus clutch of the 17mm and it's significantly larger, which undermines its walk-around appeal. They're both small, affordable, fast roughly 85mm equivalent lenses, which are ideal for portrait photography. Olympus OM-D E-M5 + Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 | 1/800 f/8 ISO 200 | © Rupert Vandervell. This optic trades off a little at the wide end for extra telephoto reach next to the Olympus option above. (67 x 73 mm) It’s even smaller than most DSLR prime lenses! 19 Photography Tools. Whilst there are several other f/1.8 (and faster) MFT lenses available, using slightly longer focal lengths such as this 90mm equivalent, really helps to produce subject separation akin to more expensive (and bigger!) Small, lightweight and fun. The f/1.8 maximum aperture allows you to shoot in low light, and when used up close to your subject, it can deliver very pleasing bokeh and subject separation. 25-Mar-20 Four Thirds Day - April 3, 2020 Send us the photos you shoot on Four Thirds Day. Focal Length: 35-100mm (70-200mm equivalent) Despite a couple of quirks, we think it's a camera that photographers and non-photographers alike will find fun to use. Receive news and offers from our other brands? View gallery, Panasonic has announced its new Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm F2.8-4 ASPH lens, which it first teased back at CES. All in all, this is one impressive telephoto lens at a very manageable size/weight. Dimensions: 2.85 x 2.33 in. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 Pro, Panasonic Leica DG 12-60mm F2.8-4 ASPH Power OIS, Panasonic Lumix G 42.5mm F1.7 ASPH Power OIS, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm F2.8 Pro, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4.0-5.6 R, Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm F2.8 II Power OIS, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 Pro, Panasonic Lumix G Macro 30mm F2.8 ASPH Mega OIS, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm F2.8 Macro, Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm F2.8 ASPH OIS, Panasonic 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 II ASPH Power OIS, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS Pro, Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4-5.6 R, Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 II ASPH Power OIS, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 Pro results on Amazon.co.uk, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40 mm F2.8 PRO Lens, Universal Zoom, Suitable for All MFT Cameras (Olympus OM-D & PEN Models, Panasonic G-Series), Black, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150 mm F2.8 PRO Lens, Telephoto Zoom, Suitable for All MFT Cameras (Olympus OM-D & PEN Models, Panasonic G Series), Black, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 Pro Lens, for Micro Four Thirds Cameras, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm F1.8 results on Amazon.co.uk, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17 mm F1.8 Lens, Fast Fixed Focal Length, Suitable for All MFT Cameras (Olympus OM-D & PEN Models, Panasonic G-Series), Silver, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17 mm F1.8 Lens, Fast Fixed Focal Length, Suitable for All MFT Cameras (Olympus OM-D & PEN Models, Panasonic G-Series), Black, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm F1.8 Lens, for Micro Four Thirds Cameras (Black), Panasonic Lumix G 42.5mm F1.7 ASPH Power OIS results on Amazon.co.uk, Panasonic LEICA DG 42.5mm F/1.2 ASPH. Also consider: Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 ASPH. Just watch out for showers since it isn’t weather-proof, but you can’t have everything, especially at this incredibly attractive price point. I must admit I only came across this dinky little MFT prime lens recently after a recommendation from a friend. Something went wrong. Micro 4/3 lenses like the Olympus M.Zuiko f/1.2 Pros or the Voigtlander Noktons sure deliver incredible results, but the price:performance ratio pushes them out of the realms of the average MFT camera owner. However, if you don’t mind the occasional slow focus time, its combination of portability and stellar image performance makes it a great micro 4/3 lens for travel in particular. This makes it equally suited for portraits, whereby the 40mm gives a flattering 80mm field of view. This is Panasonic’s premium fast telephoto zoom lens, equivalent to a 70-200mm in full frame terms. With the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8, zoom photography for me has become pleasurable again!! Don’t let sensor size be a limiting factor to what you think you can achieve ;-), Olympus PEN E-P3 + Olympus 40-150mm f/4-5.6 | 1/800 f/8. If you’re after an micro four thirds lens for portrait photography, make no mistake – this is the first (and last) lens you’ll likely ever need. Our selections for best telephoto zoom and travel zoom lenses were updated on July 10, 2019, based on reader feedback. 25-Jun-20 We started showing all the photos we received for Four Thirds'Day Photo Exhibition. Dimensions: 2.26 x 1.4 (58 x 36 mm) The Sony ZV-1 was designed specifically for vloggers, but this compact camera is an excellent option for still photographers too. NY 10036. Image quality is absolutely sumptuous. You can also expect edge-to-edge sharpness at all aperture settings, and no discernible difference in sharpness when shot wide open as opposed to when stopped down. Weight: 125 g (0.27 lb). The Rokinon 12mm f/2 is half the price of the Olympus equivalent. Let’s take a look at the best lenses in all of the main shooting categories, along with some top-value alternatives that give impressive performance on a tighter budget. The Leica Nocticron legend is reborn for the MFT format in this metal-bodied beauty of a lens. Dimensions: 2.5 x 3.3 in. As such, this is a fine option for travel photography, or just generally as an all-purpose walkaround lens, particularly as the aperture stays at a constant f/4 throughout the range. At f/2.8 sharpness is great, but again, not as good as the expensive DSLR lens beasts out there… but then again, look who’s struggling with a humongous camera/lens set up! If you’ve understood the format, and are now screaming at the screen “what micro four thirds lenses should I buy? Well don’t be distracted by the Panasonic Leica Summilux 25mm f/1.4 unless you have deep pockets – sure, it’s a fantastic lens and f/1.4 will suck in a bit more light than f/1.7, but it’s also a lot more expensive, and IMO not worth the price difference. The f/6.3 aperture rating at the long end of the zoom range is relatively ‘slow’ but quite typical for this class of super-telephoto lens. The minimum focus distance of 10.5cm is a bit close for comfort in most macro shooting. Secondly, the actual focal length for any given type of lens is halved. Money no object:Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm F2.8 Pro. From Olympus’s ‘Premium’ line, this is a little cracker of a 12mm lens. Also consider: Panasonic Lumix G Macro 30mm f2.8 ASPH Mega OIS. With the high ISO limitations of the MFT sensor, having a lens with a wide maximum aperture is always a good thing…. However, anybody who’s spent time walking about with a clunky full-fat DSLR and 24-70mm f/2.8 lens hanging around their neck will know that this kind of camera outfit can really weigh you down. (72.5 x 59 mm) A 90mm equivalent field-of-view, compact design and 15cm (5.9") minimum focus distance gives a good working distance. (63.5 x 83 mm) Longer reach:Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3. f/2.8 shot at 70mm can also produce adequate subject-separating bokeh, which looks great for portraits. The products in this post may contain affiliate links. Weight: 305 g (0.6 lbs). Separating your subject from background distractions becomes very simple indeed. Split-second timing is often needed in street photography, so many photographers prefer to adjust the focus setting in advance. Typically wide angle lenses afford a lot more leeway between in/out of focus areas, especially when stopped down to smaller apertures. Despite all the other excellent micro 4/3 prime lenses in the range, I’d recommend buying the Olympus 17mm f/1.8 first, due to its versatile focal length – 17mm is equivalent to roughly 35mm in full frame, which is the preferred focal length for so many photographers. Thanks to Panasonic announcing a second version of this lens in 2018, the pricing on the original Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 has come crashing down. Normally I wouldn’t recommend a ‘slow’ zoom lens without a constant aperture, especially in the Micro Four Thirds format. It’s the perfect lens for everyday shooting, with the bonus of effective optical stabilization. It has a very similar design to our favourite 17mm ‘street lens’ and, while it’s certainly not cheap to buy, it’s only half the price of the Panasonic 12mm f/1.4. Despite there being several micro 4/3 zoom lenses with similar focal ranges, there are currently no other 70-200mm equivalent f/2.8 zooms available for Micro Four Thirds. The Micro Four Thirds system, sometimes abbreviated to MFT or M4/3, is a standard released by Olympus and Panasonic in 2008 for the design and development of cameras and lenses for the mirrorless format. With the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 attached to your camera, you’ll be able to shoot everything from a wedding all the way down to your holiday with the kids… all without moving your legs much! The Sigma 16mm F1.4 is arguably an even better value than the Olympus. Optically the lens is excellent, delivering contrasty images with pleasing skin tones. If you’re a professional wildlife or sports photographer, you’ll need to cough up a lot more for the f/2.8 version, but as long as you’re happy to shoot in decent light, the Olympus 40-150mm f/4-5.6 delivers excellent bang for the buck in an impressively compact package. Micro Four Thirds cameras offers many of the advantages of the latest APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras, at smaller overall sizes (when combined with an equivalent lens), and at much more competitive prices. The 17mm F1.2 is a part of Olympus's trio of 'Pro' badged primes that really push what the Micro Four Thirds system can do. Image quality is great overall, and the electronically coupled ‘fly-by-wire’ focus ring operates with smooth precision. Being able to move from wide angle to telephoto in one twist of the barrel makes any 24-70mm the most versatile zoom you’ll ever own. Money no object:Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 Pro. Its twin focus motors are fast and quiet, and it has a useful clutch mechanism for engaging manual focus. Again, the physical construction of the MFT format lens will be smaller and lighter. This method of manual focusing enables you to set the lens so that everything within a particular zone will look reasonably sharp. Focal Length: 12-35mm (24-70mm equivalent) Its longer focal length and fast aperture will give you the option for shallow depth-of-field and a slightly less in-your-face working distance. The wide f/1.4 aperture rating caters to the most discerning photographers, and the effective 24mm super-wide focal length is something of a classic. Be careful that you’re buying the second generation of this lens (available here) – the first is still a great lens, but for some reason, it’s virtually the same price as the newer version, so it doesn’t really make sense to buy into the older technology in this instance. There's no easy way to fit filters to it, but it's still a useful way to go ultra-wide on Micro Four Thirds. I found sharpness at the centre to actually be better than the more expensive Olympus equivalent, and images are vibrant and contrasty at all apertures. Dimensions: 2.2 x 1.8 in. Which are the best lenses for your MFT mirrorless camera? However, it should be remembered that the crop factor of the MFT sensor means that whilst the equivalent full frame focal length is double, the equivalent aperture of the lens is actually half the value. Even so, the lens is no lightweight in terms of build quality, with a robust and weather-sealed construction. I am very happy with the Olympus 30mm f/3.5. Second, the focus issue. Panasonic GH3 + Rokinon 12mm f/2 | 1/6 f/2 ISO125 | © Damian Ward. We got our hands on the brand new Instax SQ1: an easy-to-use instant camera that shoots square format film. For portraits we'd recommend a mid-telephoto lens that lets you shoot head-and-shoulders shots from a comfortable working distance. The 8-18mm covers a useful 16-36mm equiv. And, while it's not as bright as the Olympus, it offers similarly impressive image quality and greater range in the same sized package. shooting experience. Previously this lens was priced too high for me to recommend it wholeheartedly as one of the best micro 4/3 lenses of the year. It's also worth considering the Panasonic 15mm F1.7: it's a little wider-angle that we'd usually chose, but is small, sharp and nice to shoot with (note that the aperture ring won't work on Olympus cameras). It’s also less than half the price – a fact that’s nothing to scoff at, particularly as it puts this traditionally ‘exotic’ zoom focal range into the hands of non-professionals, or anyone who’s unlikely to drop big bucks on a lens. As with the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8, you need to stop down to f/4 before corner-sharpness really gets into its stride, but overall levels of sharpness and other image quality attributes are outstanding. On the other hand, it’s around 9x larger than the 1/2.3″sensors commonly found in budget compact cameras, or smartphones. As for auto-focus performance, it’s something of a mixed bag. Available in black or silver – make sure this is the first micro 4/3 lens you buy, no matter the brand of your camera – it really is worth every penny. Yes – one of the great things about the Micro Four Thirds system is that you can use any MFT lens on any brand MFT camera body. The image quality is exceptional for such an affordable lens (see the latest price here), and the price point makes it an ideal option for beginners as well as those more invested in the micro 4/3 system. A clever push-pull auto/manual focus ring reveals a distance scale and depth of field markings for f/5.6, f/11 and f/22, making the lens is well suited to ‘zone focusing’. I’ve also included a range of prime and telephoto focal lengths, using the 35mm equivalent focal length as a reference point to the 2x crop factor of MFT lenses. However, it’s also twice the price, and in my mind that’s not justifiable. Centre-sharpness is excellent throughout the zoom range, even when shooting wide-open at f/2.8, and corner-sharpness also becomes impressive at f/4 and narrower apertures. Panasonic GM1 + Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 | © Satoki Nagata. In this guide we've outlined several use cases and made recommendations for the best overall lens for that purpose, along with two others that are worth your consideration.

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